Sheet transferring mechanism for printing fresses



Marr'ch 15, 1932. C, RIRQT 1,849,314

SHEET TRANSFERRIG `MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES original Filed April 1a, 1921 signets-sheet 1 Smacutor Bg W I f Much 15 1932' l F- ROOT 1,849,311

SHEET TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING 'PRESSES Original Filed April 18, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M @gw N lnvcnfor March l5, 1932. c. F. ROOT 1,849,314

SHEET TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Original Filed April 18, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Snoentor Bg ya? 2a Pg' r We 4 ananas noo'r, or Ummm-5. pino, ass'mnoarfrnn cmiqbmn a,

3m 0F CLEVELAIDnQHIo.

Patented 15,v 19732 The presenta improvements, relatin l,'lasinil provide a sheet feeding device 'that may be readily attached to existing presses with lit# tle or no alteration in their structure. The sheets are picked up by pneumatic suction and novel and improved -means for controlling such suction conjointly with the movement of the picker fin ers so as to locatethe sheets accurately on t e platen ofthe press constitute further features'to'which attention will be directed.

The present a plication constitutes aldvision of certain eatures set forth in my copending application Serial No. 462,256, filed April 18, 1921, these-features relating especially to the novel construction of the paper engaging and moving devices or grips.

To vthe accomplishment of the` foregoingand related ends, said invention, then, con-y sists of the means hereinafter fullyrdescribedl and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawm s and the following descri tion setting orth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but

one of various forms in which of the invention may be used,

In said annexed drawings A Fig. 1 is a side elevationof the upper portion of the so called Gordon type press showing my improved sheet engaglng and moving Adevices as attached thereto, the press in this figure being shown in dotted outline only; Fig. 2 is a perspective viewshowinga portion of the structure of Fig. l on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the imthe principle tending to confusion.' r

" The main supporting member of the sheet a coaroaarron or omo rilmf'l Brassens y l sheetv engaging 'and moviligdev'i .support-'neuken on line' a-3,"Fig.'2; 'Figc isl ajlongitudinal vertical sectlonal` v vv 'through said sheet engaging and vmnin ef'- vic'es asltaken on line4-u4, i '.'2 lookigg". .the direction of the arrowsgig,r 5*i`sfaide'- 'tailed sectional view taken on `4 v v nal vertical (plane through -one bfi'th'e'sheet engaging an moving grips; 'and' Fig, 6' lis' .a

'similar detailed sectional view'takenion'line The pressv illustrated in Athe 'drawings` as previouslyindicated, is of the' familiar platen or-Gordon type and needfvnbt scribed than to notethe oscillatorily mounted platen' v1 on which the sheet requires vtobe placedV prelim'inarily to being broughtinto Contact with the form bythe conjoint movement of suchplaten and of the which carries suchform in a suitable. chase, not shown. In Fig. `1 ofk rarer con# be further def the' longitudi.

opposite bed'2,V v .di

the drawings, the n press vis shown with theplaten in its sheet re'`" ceiving position, sheet is held on to the platenduring the printing operation, being suitably raised. l

' i y improved feeding mechanism is preferably installed, as shown, on the left hand side of the main frame ofthe press, and requires, in addition to the suction lingers and operating mechanism therefor, only a suitable table or support 4 for the stack 5 of blank sheets.y This table willbe provided with suitableelevating mechanism, preferably automatic in character, whereby the upper surface of the stack 5 ma constant `e evation. yVarious tablesI of, this sort have been devised and are on the market, and since the construction of such table forms no part of the present invention, detailed illustration thereof has been omitted, as merely feeding or transferring device consists of a tubular rod or shaft 10 that is rotatably supported in suitable bearings ll'attached at one side of the frame of the press, the up er of these bearings being shown only in not directly mounted in the bearings 11, but lies within a telescoping tube 12, that is, in

be maintained at a substantially" the grippers 3, whereby the ig- Said'tubul'ar shaft 10,'as`a mattero'f fact,is

addition to being rotatable in its bearings,

capable of vertically reciprocable movement nally aligned with the latter is a tubular exn tension 16 that is rotatively adjustably mounted therein. An inner tube 17 is in turn rotatably movable within said extension 16 its respective ends projecting beyond sai extension 16A in the one case, and beyond the bracket 15 in the other, as best shown in Fig. 1. A hollow arm 18 is fxedly attached to the end of said member 17 thus projecting beyond tubular extension 16, said arm lying at right angles to said member, and having oscillatorily mounted in a .suitable bearing at its extremity a transverse tubular shaft 19, As shown in Fig. 4, the tubular member 17 is formed so that its interior remains `at alb times, i. e., irrespective of any oscillatory movement of said member, in communication with the interior of tubular shaft 10 through cap piece 14 and bracket 15, subject only to the control of a valve.. The transverse shaft 19 at the outer end of arm 18 will accordingly likewise be thus in connection at all .times with the interior of said tubular shaft 10.

The sheet engaging and moving devices or grips, shown as two in number and in the form of suction tips or fingers, are carried by tubular arms 21 that are attached to said shaft 19, extending therefrom in a reverse direction, i. e., so as to lie generally alongside of arm 18. Each of the tubular arms 21, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, 'is of angular form and two-piece construction, the one piece 21 depending downwardly from and beingr adjustably secured to the tubular shaft 19 by a clamp 21, whereby the angular position of the arm as a whole about said shaft may be varied within limits, and the other piece 21d of said arm 21 extending horizontally from and being adjustably secured to such first piece by a clamp 21", whereby angular position of this portion of the arm, together with the suction tips 20 carried by it, may be varied in a horizontal plane about such first part as an axis. The suction tips 20, as shown, comprise portions 20 that are longitudinally adjustably secured in the horizontal portions 21dl of the tubular arms 21 by means of clamp collars 22, whereby the effective length of the arms may be varied. As a result of the construction of the parts of the sheet-transferring mechanism -just described, it will be noted in the first place that by angularly adjusting the arms 21 about tubular shaft 19 through the medium of. clamps 21a, the suction tips may be brought int-o proper vertical position with respect to the stack 5 in the one case and to the platen 1 in the other, as indicated by the double-headed arrow Fig. 2. In the second place, by angularly adjusting the horizontalportions of the jointed arms 21 Athrough the medium of clamps 21", the positions of the suction tips 20 may be independently varied in a` direction transversely of the surface of the platen, as indicated by the double-headed arrow y, Fig. 2; and in the thirdA place, by adjusting the suction tips longitudi-nally of the arms 21 through the medium of clamps 22, the positions of such tips may be independently varied from front to rear of the platen, as indicated by the doubleheaded arrow e, Fig. 2. In other Words, it is possible to select a wide range of positions in oth directions for each of the grips to con- Vtact with the platen, or rather with a sheet vto be transferred, thus adapting the mechanism for use with sheets of irregular shape, cut-outs and the like.

Adjustably mountedv on tubular member 16 is an arm25 that is connected by means of a link 26 with a lever arm 27 on the aligned Fig. 2, the arm 25 is adjustably mounted on member 16 in desired fixed angular position by means of set screw 25, and the same is true with respect to arm 27 which is adjustably mounted on shaft. 19, adjustment in this instance being possible through the medium of clamps 25d. As a result of' this construction it will be seen that oscillation of tubular member 17 will be effective, not only to drop the outer end of'tubular arm 18 and therewith the shaft 19, but also to rock said shaft so as to vary the angular relation of the same, and thus of the tubular arms 21 that connect the suction fingers, to said arm 18. The effect of such rocking movement or oscillation of tubular member 17, in its supporting bracket 15, is best illustrated in Fig. 1, Where the position of the parts, when the suction fingers are located over the stack 5 is shown in full lines, While their changed position Where located over the platen 1 is shown in dotted outline. Variation in the angular adjustment of arm 25 on tubular member 16 serves to secure the same result as docs the previously described angular adjustment of arms 21 about member 19 through the medium of clamps 21a; in other Words, the normal position of the sucker tips in Vrelation to the plane of the'stack 5 and/or platen may be varied by either or both of these adjustments, it being noted that the first-named adjustments,

- end of shaft 19. Actually, as best shown in y viz., ot said arm 25 on member 16, serves to the vlink 26 by having pivot pin 25 work in tire sheet transferring va short slot 25. When the parts-are in proper adjustment, this pin should, as illustrated, occupy an intermediate position in the slot when the sucker tips thus contact with a sheet, either on the stack or platen, such contact being then merely by gravity. Of course, during the swinging movement of arm 16, the pin 25b will move to one end of the slot, viz., the left as shown in the figures last referred to. a ft Oscillation of tubular shaft 17 is secured b means of a lever 30 attached to its inner en i. e., the end lying adjacent to cap piece 14, and a link 31 that connects the free end of said lever with the upper end of the outer tubular shaft 12 that surrounds inner shaft 10. A collar 32 on such upper end of shaft 12 provides means for thus attaching link 31 to the latter and also carries a pin 33 that lies parallel with the axis of the two shafts in question, and slidably engages an aperture' in a laterally projecting lug 34 on cap piece 14. From the construction just described it will be seen that rotation of the outer shaft 12 will be effective to rotate the inner shaft 10 irrespective of the vertical position of said shaft 12, and that, conversely, recipro'cation of shaft 12 and consequent oscillation of tubular shaft 17 may take place irrespective of the rotative position of the two shafts 10 and 12.

For the. purpose of oscillating the two shafts 10 and 12`or for reciprocating the latter of said shafts, suitable mechanism is provided in connection with the operating devices of the press, the same being adequately described in my said copending application, and as forming no part of the present invention a detailed description or illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary. It is sufficient to say that the two shafts 10 and 12 are rotatable or oscillatory, and that the shaft 12 iscapable of reciprocatory movement.

In the illustrated form of sheet engaging and moving devices, the paper grips are shown as suction tips and, of course, the endevice must be accommodated for conducting the vacuum line from a stationary point on the machine to such suction tips. In the several views illustrating in detail my improved sheet engaging and movingdevice there appears a vacuum line from the interior of the tubular shaft 10 in communication with the interior of the horizontal tubular member, which in turn at its outer end through suitable points in meniber 18, communicates with the interior of shaft 19, which may be connected at its lower end to any suitable source.

As has been described in detail, Figs. 5 and 6 clearly illustrate the communication between the interior of member 19 and suction tips 20. It should be mentioned that suction line leading through the shaft 10 and shaft 17 is subject to the control of a valve 61 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 carried by the cap piece 14. Such valve is shown only for the purpose of illustration and may be connected with the suction line as found most convenient, especially as it is sufficient for the purpose in hand to release the vacuum introduced in the picker fingers by the suction supplied through such shaft 10. The illustratlve valve consists simply of a segmental member fitted to the periphery of a disk 62. in which there is a radial port 63 that communicates with the interior of tubular member 17, the latter being otherwise sealed, save for the openings in the ends of the picker fingers 20. Accordingly, when the valve closes the port 63 there will be an effective suction' at the ends of said fingers,'but upon opening said port by oscillating the valve to suitably clearv the same, such suction effect is interrupted, as will be readily understood.

The mechanism thus provided by this invention 'is relatively simple and free from complications so that there is very little to yget out of order. Moreover, the adjustments provided for the picker fingers enable thel proper location or engagement of said fingers with the sheet to be moved, i. e., these fingers may be accurately adjusted so that they will engage with the selected point or points on the surface of the sheet to avoid, for insta-nce,

contact with the printing thereon or on the.

other hand, to accommodate irregularities in the shape of the piece bein moved.

The present mechanism as been described without reference to any mechanical'device for automatically removing the sheet from the platen after it has been printed. It shouldbe noted, however, that a suitable timing of the valve controlling the suction and the proper location of the picker fingers so as to engage the sheet at its side or rear, rather than its forward edge, would constitute of the device herein disclosed a sheet delivery instead of a feed mechanism.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any ofthe follow'- ing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In 'sheet transferring mechanism for platen presses, a member movable toward and away from the platen, arms independ- 2. In sheet transferring ,meehanismjfor' paten presses, an, movable support', a v mem# r adjustable'. onsaidsupport, anarm ad- -en o thepress and asecond armcarried by,

just'able in said'member, and a 'grip adjust- I -1 `fable in said' arm, said grip serving to transfer i sheets from sheet receiving position and adapted throughlsaid adjustments to be p ositioned to pointsyf` 16'" 3. In sheet transferring mechanism ,for platen presses, a member movable toward'and awayfromthe platen, a tubular armad ust- `able on said member, and a` grip for ta 'ingv grasp sheets at various Selected sheets from one position and depositing the, V osition, said grip beninor slidable in said 'adjustablearm and adapte to engage' sheets atfvariousl selected points.

151 same'V in another 4. In sheet transferring mechanism ,for-

platen presses, a movable mem-ber having af ad longitudinal suctionl bore therein, yan., arm;l adjustable on said ,membemtheinterior of"v saijd arm being in `communication vv'iththey bore of said member in various positions ofl v Y afdjustment.of said `arm in said member, a

zjsuction grip adjustably mounted vin saidarm,

" j lsaid 'grip being in communication with the interior of said arm in the variouspositions of adjustment of said grip in said arm.

` '5. In sheet transferring mechanism for platen presses, a movablesupport, members separately mounted on said support for* ad- *justifientabout a 'pivotal airis, and adjustable grips carried in said adjustable 'members for aspinga sheet at points variouslyspaced 35" rom aind'in various angular `relationsfto said supporti.. y In sheet transferring'mechanism for platen presses, 'a movable support, a `I ne'xnber mounted .on said vsupport for adjustment 'about an approximately horizontalfpivotal axis,. anarm 'carried by said member and adju'stable,` in av plane approximately parallel with the platen lof rthe press, `and adjustable grip telescopically carried lin said arm.-

7. Inl sheet transferring mechanism Afor platen'presses, a movable v'sup ort, a member.

mounted on saidsupport or adjustment about an yapproximately horizontal pivotal axis, an 'arm `carried by said'member and adliliadjustable in a plane approximately vertical to the plane of the platen being jointed for angular adjustment in a plane approximately parallel with said platen, and an adjustable grip carried by said arm.y f

f 9. In sheet transferring mechanismA for platen presses, a member movable toward arm-carried, -byeach'of said irstarms, said E second arms being, adjustable. -ina lane.. apyploxililately vertical to such first p ane, a11,d1

. thereo f;k

justable vin a pla-ne approximately parallel afgegaan;

` said member and adjustable relatively thereto in a laneapproximatelyvertical tothe plat- Sd first .arm,fsaid second arm being adjllgigifj; rag

able in a fplaneapproximatelyvertical to such l.rst plane, and a. gripl teleseopically carried.

in said vsecond armnf l "'r Y l 10. Inl 1 Sheet v vtransferrii'igA mechanism for platen l presses, a member movable toward-.1 and away from; the platen, armscarried :by said member Iand ,independently adjustable relatively thereto ina plane; approximately `verticaltothe platen of the press land a second al grip carriedby each of said second yarmsg `and adjustable longitudinally thereof.

11. In sheet transferring mechanism', fol?A platenpresses,a tubular member movable. towarda'nd away from the platen, a hollowy arm carried by saidjmember and angularly adjustable relativelythereto in a plane a proxmately vertical to the platen offt epre'ss,a' second arm carried by said kfirst `arm and a Agri-pv communicating with thecenter of? said arm carried by said second arm and adev 1 i l justable therein,

12, Insheet transferring mechanism-.for 95,-#

platen, presses, a member ymovable toward and away .fromthe platen, arms carried by said member; and ..independently angularly ad justable relatively thereto `in a plane approximately verticalto the platen ofthe ress, a second, arm carried byeach of sai first armsand a gripfcarried by each of said sec.- ond arms and. adjustable longitudinallyl 13.` In sheet-.transferring mechanism for 105 platen presses, a member movable toward .and away from the platen, an arm carried by; said member andl angularly adjustable rel,y atively. thereto in a lane approximately vertical to ther platen o `thepress, said arm being jointed toa second arm for` angular adjust-v mentfoffsaid seconda-rm in aplane approxi-v mately parallel f tow such` platen, and a telescopially carried in said-secondarm.V

14. Insheet transferring mechanism for 1.15 platen presses,vr a member. movable toward and away from the platemanarm carried by said member and angular-1y adjustable rel#` atively thereto in aplane approximatelyvertical' to the platen ozly the` press, said army being-jointedto a second 'ar-m'for angular-ad,- justmentof'r said secondarm in a plane approximatelyparallel to such platen, and a'y grip telesoopically adjustably carriedin saidA second arm.

l5. In sheeting transferringr mechanism for platen presses, a membermovable toward and awayv from the platen, an arm carried by said memberand angularly adjustable relatively thereto in a plane approximately 139 'the press to vertical y to Vthe being jointed. to a. adjustment of said approximately parallelto such platen, and

second arm for angular,

a grip telescopicallyy adjustable in said seo-y ond arm.

16. In sheet transferring mechanism forplaten presses, a support movable toward and away from the platen. a member extending from-said support in the general direction of movement thereof, a second rigid member extending t-ransversely of said first member adjacent the outer end thereof, and 'a grip indirectly carried by said second member and lel, to the platen of the at various selected points. j

17. In sheet transferring mechanism for platen presses, a support movable toward and away from the platena member extendmflr from said support in the general direction olf movement thereof, aV second member extending transversely of said first member adja-A cent the outer end thereof, and means including grips carried by said second member, said grips being independently adjustable 1n a plane approximately parallel to the platen of grasp a sheet at various selected points.

18. In sheet transferring mechanism for platen presses, a support movable toward and away fromthe platen, a member extending from said support in the general direction of movement thereof, a second member extending transversely of said first member adjacent the kouter end thereof, arms attached to said second member so as to be angularly adjustable relatively thereto in a plane approximately vertical to the platen of the press, and means including a grip carried by each of said arms.

19. In sheet transferring mechanism for platen presses, a support movable toward and away from the platen, a member extending from said support in the general direction of movement thereof, a second member extending transversely of said first member adjacent the outer end thereof, arms attached to said second member so as to be angularly adjustable relatively thereto in a plane ap,- proximately vertical to the platen of the press, and a grip carried by each of said arms said grips being adjustable relatively thereto.

20. In sheet transferring mechanism for platen presses, a support movable toward and away from the platen, a member extending from said support in the general direction of movement thereof, a second member extending transversely of said first member adjacent the outer end thereof, arms attached to said second member so as l justable relatively thereto in a plane approximately vertical to theplaten of the press and other arms attached to said first-named arms so as to be adjustable in a. plane parallel to platen ofthe press, said armv second armA in a plane to be angularly adsuch iirstplane, and agrip carried by each of.

said -second-named arms. y

2 1. In sheet transferring mechanismffor platen resses, a support movable towardand` away romthe platen, a member extending from said support inthe general direction of movement thereof, a second member extending transversely of saidfirst member adjacent the outer end'lthereof, armsattached to said second member so as tobe angularly adjustable relatively Y proximately vertical to the platen ofthe press and other .arms attached to saidiiIst-named arms. so as to be adj ustablein aplaneparallel to suchfirst plane, and agrip carried by each of saidV second-named arms and adjustable yInmechanism of the character described., the combination with a horizontally extending support, of a member oscillatorily -mounted on said support soasto be movable ina plane lying transversely 0f the latter, and asecond member provided with a. sheet engaging` and,v moving finger, said second member being oscillatorily mounted in turn on said firstfmember about-an axis removed from the latters axis of oscillation and extending reversely from its own axis toward the latters axis.

23. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a supportmovable in an approximately horizontal plane, of a member oscillatorily `mounted on said support so as to be movable transversely of the latter in a general vertical direction, and a second member provided withv a sheet engaging and moving finger, said second member being oscilla-torilv mounted in turn on said first member, about an axis removed from the latter-s axis of oscillation.

24. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a support movthereto .in a plane apable in an approximately horizontal plane,

of means including. a pneumatic suction device carried by said support, said device being bodily movable transversely thereof in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of said support.

' 25. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a support movable in an approximately horizontal plane, of means including a pneumatic suction device oscillatorily mounted on said support to be bodily movable transversely thereof in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of said support.

26. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a support movable in an approximately horizontal plane, of means including a member' oscillatorily mounted on said support to be movable transversely thereof, and a suction device oscil` latorily mounted in turn on said member so as to be bodily movable in a plane substan- A tion of said member.

28. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a platen of a suitable support disposed to lie above said platen in the sheet receiving position of the latter. a member mounted on said support so as to be oscillatory about an approximately horizontal axis. and a sheet engaging andmoving device carried by said member and oscillatory vvith respect to the support about l an axis removed from the axis of oscillation thereof.

29. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a platen, of a suitable support disposed to lie above said platen in the sheet receiving position of the latter. a member mounted on said support so .as to be oscillatory about an approximately horizontal axis, and means including a sheet engaging and moving finger carried by said .member and oscillatory with respect to the same about an axis removed from but parallel with the axis of oscillation thereof.

30. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a platen of a sheet engaging and moving finger. and means for movably supporting same, said means including two members located above said platen in the sheet receiving position of the latter, one of the said members being carried by the other, and one having an oscillatory path of travel while the otheris bodily movable in a direction transverse of the axis of oscillation of said first member.

31. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a horizontally extending support, of a member oscillatorily mounted on said support so as to be movable transversely of the latter in a general vertical direction, and a second member provided vvith a sheet engaging and moving finger, said second member being oscillatorily mounted in turn on said first member about an axis removed from the latters axis of oscillation. y

32. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a horizontally extending support, of a member oscillatorily mounted on said support so as to be movable 1n a plane lying transversely of the latter, and a second member provided with a sheet engaging and moving finger, said second member being oscillatorily mounted in turn on said first member about an axis removed from the latters axis of oscillation.

Signed by me this Qth'day of Au st, 1930.

' CHARLES F. 00T. p 

